113th Congress Hearing Archives

Oversight Hearing on "Why Does the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Want to Expand the Boundaries of the Chickasaw and Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuges in Tennessee and at What Cost?”
Thursday, June 20, 2013 9:30 AMSubcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs
1324 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515

Background:

The hearing will examine the U.S. Fish and Wildlife's decision and the amount it would cost taxpayers to expand the boundaries of the Chickasaw and Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuges by 120,078 acres. The National Wildlife Refuge System (System) is comprised of federal lands that have been acquired or designated for the conservation and enhancement of fish and wildlife, and on which compatible recreation is allowed. However, the current maintenance backlog recorded for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service now stands at $2.3 billion. The expansion of the Chickasaw and Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuges is a classic case of the federal government’s desire to buy an unlimited amount of private land, while ignoring its responsibilities to maintain the land it already owns.